Device for mounting air conditioning unit in a casement window



De@ 2, 19,58 l.. BUCHENBERGER Er AL- 2,862,435 DEVICE FOR MOUNTING AIRCONDITIONING UNIT IN A OASEMENT WINDOW Filed oct; 29. 1954 /NVENTORSBUCHE NBERGE R JOSEPH R. HORA/BACK BV p,

Idug O, P4B-Q LEROY ATTORNEY Safes Patent Office 2,862,435 Patented Dec.2, 1958 DEVICE FOR MOUNTING AIR CONDITIONING UNIT IN A CASEMENT WINDOWLeroy Buchenberger, Evansville, and Joseph R. Hornback,

Hatfield, Ind., assignors, by mesne Whirlpool Corporation, a corporationof Delaware Application October 29, 1954, Serial No. 465,625 3 Claims.(Cl. 9s94) This invention relates to air conditioning apparatus but morespecically it is concerned with a mounting structure forsupporting awindow-mounted type of air conditioning unit in a easement style window.

It is a principal object of the present invention to prowhich ispositionable on a stool of a Casement-type, windowstructure and which iscooperative with the sash of said window for supporting Van -airconditioning unit therein. k

A yet still further object is to provide a means for supporting an airconditionlng unit in a Casement-,type Window which is readilyinstallable and removable without deforming or marring any of the windowstructure.

Another important object is to provide an adjustable A' clamping devicewhich may be locked ina plurality of positions and which is adapted forsecuring an`air conditioning unit adapter frame to a window sash frame.

A further important object is to provide a mounting' structure for anair conditioningunit which permits'a window-type unit to be mounted sothat no part of the assignments, to l Y flow communication with theoutside atmosphere.

unit extends outside of or beyond the window sash,`

frame. j

Further objects and advantages of the inventionV will be apparent fromthe full description, reference being had to the accompanying drawingswherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a easement window structure intowhich the proposed air conditioner adapter frame and clamprassembly havebeen mounted.;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l but shown withthe air conditioner unit in place.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the proposed clampingy device.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view kof the clamping device shown in Fig. 3.

vice of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the clamping device and` shows clearly thegear rack along one edge portion and glazed throughout with conventionalwindow glass V.60 Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the clamping de-v15. The sash 12, as illustrated, is the well known casement typegenerally provided with a left-hand opening portion 12a and a right-handopening portion 12b which meet at the center of the sash. VThe windowstructure generally includes also a trim member 16 located beneath thestool 11,and a sill 17 which extends outwardly from a wall 18 of thespace to be air conditioned.

The air conditioning unit, which is shown generally by the referencenumeral 19, may be enclosed by la single casing or housing 20, and,preferably, is the type that is provided with a rear wall opening 21therein for air Such unit, additionally, is usually provided with abaiile (not shown) 'substantially in the center of said rear wallopening so that air from the outside may enter through one portion ofsaid rear wall opening and exit through anportion thereof after havingpassed over the condenser and associated equipment in conventionalfashion. Since air conditioning units of this general type are so wellknown, and since. many such units are available on the commercialmarkets, it is believed further descriptive detailing of theconstruction of the unit is unnecessary to a proper understanding of theproposed invention.

In accordance with the specific teachings of the present invention thereis provided a bonnet or canopy-like adapter frame member 22 which isshaped and Idimensioned to snugly receive the end portion of the unitscasing 20 which generally encases the condenser portion of the coolingapparatus therewithin. The adapter frame as proposed herein may beformed with a peripherally extending flat outer rim member 23 fashionedto resemble a rectangle and having an inwardly directed ycontinuouslyextending flange member 24, the marginal edge of which delimits anopening 25 formed thereby..

Said opening 25, preferably, corresponds and registers' generally withthe overall area of the combined openings 26, resulting from the removalof a pane of glass from each of the adjoining sash frame portions 12aand 12b of the sash 12, and also with the opening 21 in the rear wall ofthe units casing 20. It will be appreciated, of course, that the opening25 generally should be dimensioned so as to provide a suitable sizedattaching and reinforcing flange 24 without at the same time making ittoo large as to be unduly restricting or otherwise interfering with theflow of air from and to the outside atmosphere.

An adjustable clamping device for xedly and securely holding the adapterframe 22 against the sash frame 12, and in a registering position withrespect to the adjoining openings 26 in said sash, is indicatedgenerally by the reference numeral 27. The clamp, as illustrated,includes a stationary keeper or jaw-like body portion 28 and anadjustable jaw-like member 29 adapted for slidable positioningtherewithin. The body portion 28 as fashioned resembles a C-shape incross-section with a relatively at upper surface and having opposedinwardly turned depending ilange members 30, 31 that are spaced and`dimensioned to provide a channel-like groove or track into which theImovable jaw-like member 29 is snugly but not tightly slidable. Alongthe edge of the inwardly turned ilange member 31 and facing the ange 30there is provided a toothed gear rack 32. Secured to and projectingupwardly from the upper surface `of the stationary member or body 28there is an abutment or stop 33 which, preferably, is spaced inwardlyfrom a forward edge thereof to provide a jaw-like member resemblingthe'iixed jaw of ya vise. It will be understood, of course, that suchstop Aor jaw member may be fashioned integral with the body 28 or it maybe separately fonmed and lixedly secured thereto by suitableconventional means, such as spot welding 33a.

The slide member 29, which may be said vto resemble 3. the movable jawof a vise, is fashioned in the shape of a deformed L with a longhorizontal arm 34 and a somewhat shorter arm 35 extending verticallytherefrom and' havingthe arm 34 dimensioned to slide easily in. thetra'ck or channel of the non-slidable body portion 287.2/ Apiniorrslsector'gear'3'6v isV rotatablyzmounted on.y a stud'or pin 37which,l in.turn,-is affixed to or anchored inlthesl-idable member l29 inany suitable or conventional manner and is disposed proximate the` freeend of the long armm` thereof. 36' by-spot welding 36dor otherVconventional means and'- adapted for"iotationY therewith is anactuating lever or'ha'ndle-'like'arm Sfwhich may be fashioned withfaturned-'nprendportionV 39'to facilitate manual rotative oper-ationthereof.

The pinion gear' 36, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, is fashioned-as anyellipticall'y-shapedmember in which gear teeth have `been providedv onlyinl a limited portionof the periphery thereof in order tov be 'able toaffect disengagement ofthe pinion gear land the rack and thus permit thesliding member 29-to slide freely within the fixed' body member 28 attimes wheny adjustment'is required.'- Since the rotationaldisplacementof the actuating armor lever SS-is limited or restricted, when the clampis in place in a Windowstructure, by contact With the adapter frame 22,plus the additional fact thatthe pinion gear rnustbe disengaged at timesfrom said-gear rack to permit free sliding of one -member within the Aramp-like ridge orrib is provided tok function as Aixed tov the'piniongear a stop or a locking abutment d@ for the lever arm 38- and for thusmaintaining said pinion gear and rack locked in any one of a multitudeof diiferent positions. While the lever 38 is 'being rotatedcounterclockwise, to the position of Fig. 4, the resiliency of saidV armpermits it toyield and ridethe ramp to the endwhereupon" the resiliencythereof 'causes the arm to drop behind the'vertical yface of said stopand to prevent movement of the rack and pinion gear in the'reversedirection. These gears, in eifect; are thus' locked in position.

In utilizing the present invention the adapter frame 22 is positionedover the openings 26, formed when a glazed window vpane is removed fromeach of the two adjoining lsash frame portions 12a` and 12b of acasement window structure, anda strip-like sealing gasket 41; ofsuitable resilient' material such as sponge rubber or the like, isinterposed between adjoining surfacesy of said'adapter' frame and saidsash frame portions to minimize leakage' of air to and from the outsideatmosphere and `deaden noise transmission therethrough. With the framethus located; the clamping device 27 is then adjusted so thatthe-jaW-like portions thereof are spaced to grip the adapter frame andsash frame. the lever and gear 36 clockwise, as viewed in Figure 4, themeshing teeth on said gear and said rack are disengaged and the member29 becomes freely slidable with the member 28. Now the abutment or stop337 on the stationary or keeper portion 28 thereof, may be pressedtightly against the exterior surface of the window sash 12, while thevertical arm 35,of the slide member29, is slidably adjustedV to presstightly against the inner surface of the flange portie-U24 of said'adapter frame. Vifhen thus firmly positioned the actuatingiever or arm33,' which has heretofore been in its' open position,V is then rotatedcounterclockwise, to the position By turning of Figure so as to causethe pinion gear 36 to rotate and thereby bring the teeth of the piniongear 36 into meshing engagement with the tecthof the rack 32. As

the teeth'of pinion' gear 36 engage the toothed rack 32'theV together ina vise-like or gripping action thus forcing the adapted frame 22,sealing gasket 41 and sash frame 12 into a tightly clamped relationship.When the handle or lever arm 3S starts to rotate counterclockwise fromits open or teeth disengaged position it contacts the ramp-like portionof the stop or locking member 40, and the resiliency of such arm permitsit to yield axiallyas it rides up" this ramp.. Upon reaching the topthereof it then drops in behind the end of the stop and thereafterengages the'vertical surface of said stop to retain said pinion gear andrack meshed in a locked position. In order to release this lockedrelationship the llever arm 38' must manually be forced over the stop 40and back down the ramp as it is rotated clockwise, to the position ofFigure 4.

With the clamping device 27 locked in position the adapter frame 22 isiixedly secured and is ready to receive the air conditioning unit 19Vandits enclosing casing.20 therewithin. Openings 46 in the adapter frame22 may be provided for accommodating suitable securing means, suchas thescrews 43, which, in turn, may be threadably receivedvin the casing 20for maintaining or holding said unitxedly positioned within said adapterframe. Although two clamping devices, one for each of the sash portions12a and 12b, and three securing screws have been shown as being employedin the illustrated embodimentv it will be appreciated that deviationsfrom this number may be made and still be withinvthe concepts of thepresent invention.

From the foregoing it should now be apparent that a 'novell andimprovedlmountingV means has been shown and described for use inmounting an air conditioning unit in a easement window structure, ItWill be appreciated also that the` proposed device is simple andinexpensice to fabricate and that it may be used withoutdeforming-orotherwise marringv the window structure and yet permit theunit to be mounted entirely Within the space being cooled. It should beunderstood, of course, that changes may be made in the constructionshown herein without departing from the spirit of the invention' or thescope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting structure for supporting an air conditioning unit havingan opening in one wall thereof ina window frame structure having a sashportion from which panes of--glassf have been removed to provideopenings -for air communication between the units wall opening andthe-outside atmosphere, comprising: an adapter frame having a inwardlydirected continuously extending flange whose marginal edge delimits anopening that substantially coincidesand registers with the Y overallareaof the openings in the window sash when said adapter is positionedin close association therewith; a sealing gasket interposed betweenproximate surfaces of said adapter frame and the window sash; -achanneledv member having anabutment projecting from an upper surfacethereof adapted for positioning against an outer surface of the windowsash; said channeled member having a gear; rack fashioned along one sideif the channel thereof; an angle member slidably positionable withinsaid channeled member and adapted for positioning against an innersurface of said adapter frame flange; a gear member rotatively aixed tosaid angle member and disposed so as to engage thegear rack of saidchanneled member, and effectivefor urging said channeled member and saidanglemember toward each other upon rotation of the gear in one directionand away from each other upon rotation of the gear in the otherdirectionyand removable means Vfor maintaining an air conditioningunitfixedly positioned within said adapter frame.

2. A clamping device for xedly positioning an air conditioning unitadapter frame mounting in a window frame structure, comprising: 'achanneledmember having an abutment thereon adapted for positioningagainst the outer surface of a window sash frame; said channeled memberhaving gear teeth formed on one side of the channel thereof; anangularly-shaped member slidably positionable within said channeledmember and adapted for positioning against the inner surface of anadapterv frame disposed in close proximity to a window sash frame; atoothed gear member rotatively secured to said angularly-shaped memberand disposed so that when rotated in one direction the teeth thereonengage the gear teeth of said channeled member and urge saidangularly-shaped and channeled members toward one another, and away fromone another when rotated in another direction; an actuating lever aiixedto said toothed gear member; and stop means on said angularly-shapedmember and disposed so as to engage said actuating lever in a lockingrelation for iixedly positioning said channeled member with respect tosaid angularly-shaped member.

3. A tightening and securing clamp for holding an air conditioning unitagainst the frame of a window opening comprising, a member provided witha body having a fixed jaw for engaging one side of the window frame andhaving a movable jaw for engaging the other side of the movable frame, arack and pinion connection carried by said body for actuating said jawsrelative to each other and for drawing the air conditioning unit againstthe window opening frame, said pinion comprising a partial gear havingits teeth ending at a portion of the pinion which permits free slidingmovement between said jaws to make a rough adjustment between the jaws,and an actuating member for said pinion adapted thereafter to bring theteeth of the pinion into engagement with the rack and to move the pinionfar enough to move the air conditioning unit tightly against the Windowframe, said actuating member being adapted to engage a`stop shoulder inthe holding position, said stop shoulder being carried by said body, andcomprising a beveled member resiliently engaged by the actuating memberduring the tightening action, and engaged by said actuating member atsaid stop shoulder in the holding position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 63,468Card Apr. 2, 1867 529,765 Weyhe Nov. 27, 1894 854,091 Hilberg May 21,1907 1,760,346 Correa May 27, 1930 2,294,664 Hubbard Sept. 1, 19422,322,904 Williams n June 29, 1943 2,448,671 Hord Sept. 7, 19482,667,765 Harris et al. Feb. 2, 1954 2,717,508 Loveley et al. Sept. 13,1955

